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Tips from the Hat Experts!

How should I store my hat?
Several American Hat Makers hat styles feature a brim that is sloped downwards, both at the front and the back of the hat, which greatly contributes to the distinctive look of these hat styles. To prevent your hat brim from losing its distinctive contour, it is important that you DO NOT store your hat on a flat surface for any great length of time. For these hat styles, particularly (and any of our hat styles, generally), it is best to store them suspended, instead of on a flat surface. You can suspend your hat on the hat cone that came in the box that your hat was shipped in (portable hat cones can be purchased from our website). In lieu of a hat cone, you can store your hat on a coffee can, or an upturned roll of paper towels (or even a bowling ball).

How can I clean my hat?
There are different methods for cleaning the many different materials used in making American Hat Maker’s hats. It’s best to follow the care and cleaning directions for your specific hat (printed on the label in the hat).

Following are suggestions for cleaning some of the materials used in making American Hat Maker’s hats:

Suede
You can try using a very fine-grained sandpaper to gently sand away the dirt, but be careful to NOT sand where there is thread, as the thread could then come unraveled.

Another option is to purchase a Suede Bar, which (as mentioned on our website) “is perfect for light colored leathers. Takes out oils and soils without the use of water.” A Suede Bar is included as part of our Cleaning Kit, which can be purchased from our website (http://www.headnhome.com/hatstore/accessories_tools/).

Finished LeatherTo clean finished leather, just using a damp cloth will usually do a very nice job. If you want to do a more extensive cleaning, you can use saddle soap or boot cream.

How should I clean my Cabana?
Our Cabana style hats are made of Nylon and Polyester. They can be hand-washed using a mild detergent (like dish-washing liquid), then air-dried. You can use a brush to scrub stubborn spots. It is best to let your Cabana air-dry suspended on a coffee can or a roll of paper towels (just as you should store it) to maintain the distinctive sloped contour of the brim.

How should I clean/maintain my Sweat Patches?
One of the great features of an American Hat Maker’s hat is the removable and washable Sweat Patch. When the Sweat Patch becomes saturated, just pull to remove it from the Velcro that holds it in place. Once removed, the Sweat Patch should be hand-washed using a mild detergent (like dishwashing liquid), then air-dried. Once dry, the Sweat Patch can be reattached via the Velcro. IMPORTANT: To prevent perspiration staining of the hat, Sweat Patches should be washed frequently (i.e., whenever the Sweat Patch becomes saturated).

How can I get extra Sweat Patches and Size Reducers?
Although our high-quality hats are designed to last forever, our Sweat Patches are not. If you frequently wear your hat (as most of our customers do), the Sweat Patch will eventually need to be replaced. Additional Sweat Patches, as well as Size-Reducers (Full-Size and Half-Size) that will reduce the size of your hat by one full-size or 1 half-size (and serve the double-purpose of also being functional as Sweat Patches), can be purchased from our website at http://www.headnhome.com/hatstore/accessories_tools/

How can I reshape my hat brim?
Several of American Hat Maker’s styles feature a brim that is sloped downwards, both at the front and back of the hat, which greatly contributes to the distinctive look of these hat styles. To prevent your hat brim from losing its distinctive contour, it is important that you DO NOT store your hat on a flat surface for any great length of time. To restore the brim to its distinctive shape, roll the front of the brim downwards into a tight cylindrical shape, then unroll the brim. Repeat the same process on the back of the brim. Repeat the process on both the front and back of the brim as many times as necessary.

Can you refurbish my hat (if so, what refurbishing is done, and how much does it cost)?
American Hat Makers does provide refurbishing of our hats. Refurbishing includes replacing the trim on the brim of the hat, a thorough cleaning, and the cost of shipping your hat back to you (all for only $35.00).

Can I pack my hat in a suitcase? If so, how?
Our Crusher style hats are completely “crushable”, and can be easily wadded up and packed in a suitcase. Some of our other styles (Such as Breeze and Cabana) are also considered “crushable.” To pack either of these style hats in a suitcase, fold the brim up on the sides of the hat (like a taco), lay it on its side and stuff socks inside the crown of the hat so that it doesn’t get squashed flat (It is important to note that, after unpacking your hat, it may not return to its original perfect shape).

What kind of sun-protection do your hats provide?
Our Leathers and suedes not only offer all-season rain protection, but also offer 100% UV protection. With a UPF of over 50 you will not get more sun protection from any headwear this light weight. Our all mesh hats still block out over 80% of the sun’s harmful rays.

How weather resistant are your hats?
Our SolAir and American Outback hats handle weather without any problems. Rain or snow poses no worries for the wearer, and with 100% UV Protection, that applies to sunshine as well!

Are your hats fade resistant?
Although fading is ultimately inevitable , many of our leathers and fabrics have been treated to resist fading due to sun exposure. You can expect a lifetime of performance from our hats.

Are your hats water resistant?
Many of our leathers and fabrics have been treated with water-resisting compounds. Most of our hats shed water like rain off a duck’s back. Though it is not generally necessary, some customers choose to reapply scotch-guard or other chemicals after years of use.

Do your hats shrink?
Our hats are made of only the most durable leathers and do not generally shrink or expand. Leather is an organic material, however, and should be treated with care. Subjecting any leather product to prolonged instances of extreme heat or dryness can have the effect of drying out and shrinking. For this reason, you should avoid storing your hat in the follow places: Closed vehicles on hot days, ovens, fireplaces. etc.

Just how “crushable” are your hats?
Our Crusher style hats are completely “crushable”, and can be easily wadded up and packed in a suitcase. Some of our other styles (e.g., our Breeze and Cabana styles) are also somewhat “crushable.” To pack either of these style hats in a suitcase, fold the brim up on the sides of the hat (like a taco), lay it on its side and stuff socks inside the crown of the hat so that it doesn’t get squashed flat (It is important to note that, after unpacking your hat, it may not return to its original perfect shape).

What are your specific guarantees?
Each hat comes with a Lifetime Guarantee on workmanship and materials. There is also a satisfaction guarantee on anything you order. If it does not meet or exceed your expectations, simply return it within 10 days in new condition for a full refund. Also if the hat you order for yourself or someone else does not fit for any reason you may exchange it for the correct size.

What can I do if my hatband falls off?
Although many of our hatbands are sewn on, some of our hatbands are simply adhered to the hat with contact cement. Our hatbands will usually remain adhered indefinitely, and only on rare occasions will the hatband come loose. If, however, the hatband does come loose, it can be re-adhered with contact cement.

What if I find that the hat I purchased is too big?
If the American Hat Makers hat you purchased is just a little too big, you should be able to achieve a comfortable fit with one of our Size Reducers. We include one Full Size-Reducer and one Half Size-Reducer (that will reduce the size of your hat by one full-size or one half-size, and serve the double-purpose of also being functional as a Sweat Patch) with every hat that we ship. Additional Size-Reducers can be purchased from our website at http://www.headnhome.com/hatstore/accessories_tools/

What if I find that the hat I purchased is too small?
If the American Hat Makers hat you purchased is just a little too small, you can try the following procedure for stretching the hat to increase the hat size slightly:

1. Put your knee in the crown of the hat, with the front of the hat facing you.2. Put your fingers on the inside front of the hat.3. Pull towards you, while pushing with your knee in the opposite direction.

This trick often works if you just need to stretch the hat slightly, but use caution in applying too much pressure, as you don’t want to destroy your hat.

What is the best way to determine what size of hat I should order?
As hat sizes are somewhat inconsistent throughout the industry (one company’s size 7 ½ could be vastly different from another’s), it would probably be best to measure.

A few tips for correctly finding your head size:
Get a friend’s help! It makes it easier.

You should measure the circumference of your head half way up your forehead and one finger’s width above your ears. Pull the tape to about the tightness you would like to wear a hat (you can use a string and then measure it if you don’t have a tape), but put a finger between the tape and your head to allow for a little room (it’s best not to measure with just the tape measure pulled tight around your head, or you might end up getting a hat that is too tight). Take this measurement 3 times or until you get a consistent reading.

Can I exchange the hat I purchased for a different hat (if so, how)?
If you are dissatisfied with your hat purchase for any reason (e.g., wrong size, wrong style, wrong color), you may certainly exchange your hat for a different hat.

To expedite processing of your return, please go to our website(http://www.headnhome.com/returns.php) and fill out a return form. It’s important that you include any pertinent information with your return, such as your Return Shipping Address, and the reason for the return. Be sure to also include the color, size, and style of the hat you are returning (as well as the color, size, and style of the hat you want to exchange it for).

How do I install a chinstrap on one of your hats that I have?
If your hat has a mesh crown, you can simply string the chinstrap through the mesh. First, poke 1 hole on each side of the seam at the back of the crown, making sure that the holes are large enough to accommodate passing the chinstrap through them (it’s best to use something with a tapered tip, like a pen or pencil, but a metal awl works best). Second, push the ends of the chinstrap through the 2 holes (from inside to outside). Next, poke 2 more holes (one on the right side, and one on the left side) in the middle of the crown, just above the hatband. Then, push the ends of the chinstrap through the 2 holes (from outside to inside). Finally, push both ends of the chinstrap (one at a time works best) through the adjusting bead to complete the installation.

Do you do custom work?
As we are extremely busy trying to keep up with the tremendous demand for our high-quality hats, we are unable to do any customizing at this time.

Can I check the status of my order?
As all of our hats are handmade to order, and due to increased desire for our high-quality hats, we ask that you please allow up to 3 weeks for your order to ship. If it has been more than 3 weeks since you placed your order, please feel free to call us at 1 (800) 642-3428 to check the status of your order.

How can I track my order?
If you provided us with your email address when you placed your order, we will send you an email to confirm shipment (which will include tracking information) when we ship your order.

How can I reach the Salesperson I met at the Fair?
To contact a salesperson that you met at a fair, send an email message to hatinfo@headnhome.com, including the name of the salesperson (if you remember it) and the name of the fair. We will forward the email message to the appropriate salesperson’s emailbox.

Are there any Fairs that will be in my area soon?
For the latest & greatest information on upcoming events, Like us on Facebook (facebook.com/americanhatmakers)

How long will it be before my order is shipped?
All of our hats are handmade to order. Due to increased desire for our high-quality hats, please allow up to 3 weeks for your order to ship. Please be patient, it is worth the wait!